Reddy lays foundation stone of IT park

Keesarapalli, Andhra Pradesh, May 27 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy laid the foundation stone of an Information Technology (IT), park here tonight.

The park, to come up on a 35-acre land, will promote IT industry after Hyderabad and Vishakapatnam.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Reddy said the IT Park, will provide employment to nearly 2,500 students.

He lamented that many students after getting their professional degrees were unable to get jobs in this sector.

He said the erstwhile Telugu Desam government had created 85,000 jobs in this sector while the Congress Government after coming to power in 2004 has provided 65,000 jobs in just two years.

Dr Reddy said the state Government was giving a serious thought to provide two lakhs jobs in the next three years. Though the state Government had set up Jawahar knowledge centres, the students could not get jobs in this sector as the companies were reluctant to employ them.

Dr Reddy also claimed that the state Government had implemented many promises made to the people prior to elections.

He said on the first day after assuming office, the government had provided free power and waived electricity dues amounting to Rs 1200 crore for the farmers.

He promised the farmers that the water from Nagarjunasagar would be given to Krishna delta on time and water from Polavaram canal would be released to Brahamayya tank soon.

Dr Reddy said the state Government will keep in mind the loss caused to the people due to Polavaram project and required compensation will be paid to them.

He said after the Congress came to power, the government had taken steps to provide loans to women under the Development of women and children in rural areas group (DWARCA) on 25 paise interest. Loans ammounting Rs 1,238 cr were provided to them in 2004 while Rs 2,100 cr in 2005.

This year the governement will also provide a loan of Rs 3000 cr to women under 'Indira Kranti', he added.

Dr Reddy also said so far the goverment has constructed 40 lakh houses for the homeless while the construction of other 54 lakh houses will take palce in the next three years.

He said the government would provide pension of Rs 200 to the old aged, widows and physically handicapped persons every month.

The government would construct rooms in schools and anganwadi buildings were the rooms were insufficient, he added.

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